Connie ’s Comments (group member since Nov 11, 2013)

Connie ’s comments from the Reading with Style group.

20.3 Climate Policy

The Jackal's Mistress by Chris Bohjalian

Political event: American Civil War

For 20.8, on page 228: "He leaned over for the jug of whiskey and topped off both of their glasses."

Union Captain Jonathan Weybridge was seriously injured during an 1864 Civil War battle. After surgery he was left in a vacant house in Confederate Virginia when the Union troops had to retreat quickly.

Libby Steadman was running the family farm with her young niece and two freed slaves, Sally and Joseph, while her husband languished in a Northern Union prison. Their gristmill provided food for the Southern Confederate soldiers. Jonathan was found in her neighbor's house, and he was taken to the Steadman homestead at great personal risk to Libby, Sally, and Joseph. Libby hoped that a Union woman would take in her Confederate soldier husband if the situation was reversed. She also hoped for a prisoner exchange when Jonathan was healed. The situation was dangerous since they could be tried for treason if Jonathan was found in the Steadman home.

This was an exciting book filled with tension as the Southern soldiers patrolled the area. The book showed people trying to do the right thing by seeing the humanity in the slaves and the soldiers of the opposing army, but their actions carried enormous personal risk. This would be a good book discussion read since the subject of a divided country is so topical. "The Jackal's Mistress" was a compelling story that kept me turning the pages.

+20 task
+ 5 combo 10.1 Member Lottery (soldiers were traveling by foot and by horseback)
+ 5 combo 20.8 Temple Bar Pub
+10 review

Task total: 40
Season total: 645

15.8 CYOA

Classic path task #5: Read a book whose title contains the letters in the word Madrid.

The Verge: Reformation, Renaissance, and Forty Years that Shook the World by Patrick Wyman

Task total: 15
Season total: 605

20.8 Temple Bar Pub

Farewell, I'm Bound to Leave You by Fred Chappell

For 20.8 on page 9: "I wish he'd quit the whiskey."

Jess Kirkman is remembering the stories that were passed down to him as his mother sits with his grandmother on her final day of life. This book of interconnected short stories about remarkable women is framed by several pages of lyrical passages as the clocks count down the hours.

The book is set in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina, and the stories impart wisdom from the first half of the 20th Century. There are some quirky characters and lots of humor in these lyrical tales. The amusing interactions between cranky old Mr Worley and teenage tomboy, Earlene, in "The Fisherwoman" as he taught her fly fishing for trout made it one of my favorites. Other stories are about weary women who have hard lives with unrelenting labor, and the author writes, ". . . there's more women been scrubbed threadbare on the washboard than ever we count."

I'll probably be humming "Oh Shenandoah" for days after reading a tragic story,"The Madwoman." The title of the book comes from the last verse of the song:

And so farewell, I'm bound to leave you,
All away, you rolling river. . .

Another tale filled with music is "The Remembering Women" which featured a square dance:

It was as if their dancing, the female slide and shuffle, the masculine drum and thunder, propelled the house behind them; it had become a merry-go-round, turning steadily and stately as the music went just a little bit faster, just a little more, and he could tell there were furies in it, whirlwinds and cyclones and hurricanes that Quigley's fiddle barely held in check, that his calling could barely control.

Highly recommended!

+20 task
+10 review
+10 not a novel (short stories)
+ 5 oldie (1996)

Task total: 45
Season total: 590

20.3 Climate Policy

Mistress of the Ritz by Melanie Benjamin

Political event: The book is about the Occupation of Paris by the Nazis during World War II, the French Resistance, and the Fresnes Nazi prison.

Review: It's June 1940, and the Nazis chose the most opulent hotel in Paris--the Ritz--as their headquarters. The Ritz had been where the rich and famous mingled, and everyone looks gorgeous under its rosy lighting. Claude Auzello, the hotel's manager, has to follow the orders of the Nazis. But both he and his American wife, Blanche, have secret activities that are not even known by their spouses.

Claude and Blanche have been married since 1923 after a whirlwind romance. Blanche was an outgoing actress whose acting skills often come in handy when dealing with the Nazis. Claude is known for his perfect service, and is as married to the Ritz as to his wife, Blanche. Claude's beloved Ritz, with its interesting history and all its colorful guests, is really the third main character in the story. The Auzellos have a rocky marriage, and the Nazi occupation adds to the stress.

The book is based on some true events, but author Melanie Benjamin had to invent the details in the novel since the Auzellos did not leave much personal information. The chapters alternate between the points of view of Blanche and Claude. They are labeled with the year of the events as the story moves from the 1920s through the 1940s with a surprising Epilogue. I enjoyed this different approach to World War II historical fiction since Blanche was such a vibrant character, and the Ritz provided a unique setting.

+20 task
+10 review

Task total: 30
Season total: 545

15.7 CYOA

The Tunnel by Ernesto Sabato

For the Classics path, this is task # 4: Riofa - read a book translated from Spanish

Task total: 15
Season total: 515

10.9 Surgery Best Wishes

Fragile by Lisa Unger

For 20.8, on page 209: "Travis opened the door for Jones and offered him a beer. . . "

A teenage girl, Charlene, disappears and the residents of The Hollows, a small town north of New York City, are in fear. The news brought back haunting memories of the disappearance and death of another girl, Sarah, about twenty years earlier.

Charlene is the girlfriend of Rick Cooper. His father, Jones, is the lead detective and has to consider his son as a possible suspect. Rick's mother, Maggie, is a psychologist who knows many of the hidden secrets in The Hollows. Both Jones and Maggie grew up in The Hollows, and they are instrumental in uncovering the truth about both Charlene and Sarah.

"Fragile" made me think about how important technology is in contemporary investigations as the detectives read Charlene's Facebook messages to get into her mindset. This was an intense psychological thriller about families and small town secrets. It held my interest all through the investigation.

+10 task (Maggie is a psychologist)
+ 5 combo 20.8 Temple Bar Pub
+10 review

Task total: 25
Season total: 500

20.1 Adaptation and Resilience

The Housebreaker of Shady Hill and Other Stories by John Cheever

Three stories in the collection--"The Five Forty-Eight," "The Sorrow of Gin," and "O Youth and Beauty"-- were adapted into a mini-series by PBS. The series was titled "3 by Cheever."
https://tangodelviudo.blogspot.com/20...
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2403092/

For 20.8, whiskey in the story "The Trouble of Marcie Flint": "I tasted my whiskey and gave my paper a shake, but the view of the golden light on the grass and trees was more compelling than the news."

"A Housebreaker of Shady Hill and Other Stories" is a collection of eight stories set in the fictional town of Shady Hill in the 1950s. The stories are about upper middle class families in suburbia, probably in Westchester County, New York. The men work in Manhattan and take the commuter train back to Shady Hill in the evening. Their wives stay home with the children, and many have maids to help with the housework. Underneath the country club exterior, problems are churning in the lives of those affluent families. Seven of the eight stories were previously published in The New Yorker magazine.

+20 task
+ 5 combo 20.8 Temple Bar Pub
+10 review
+10 not a novel
+ 5 oldie (published in 1958)

Task total: 50
Season total: 475

20.2 Carbon Removal

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

For 20.8 about whiskey: "Phoebe drank whiskey for the first time in months, and Matt stared at the moon. . ."

Phoebe arrived at the Cornwall Inn in Newport, Rhode Island, wearing a spectacular silk dress, and carrying no luggage. She had wanted to spend time at the inn with Matt, but their relationship was over. She is depressed and grieving about several losses. Phoebe is the only guest at the inn who is not part of a six-day wedding event. The bride, Lila, has planned every detail, but spending an exorbitant amount on a wedding won't buy happiness. When the maid of honor has to back out of attending the wedding, Lila asks Phoebe to take her place.

"The Wedding People" has lots of dark humor as it shows the relationships among the people attending the wedding. It's a book about grief, suicide, infertility, finding fulfillment in life, and love. There are some dark topics, but the book also has many literary references and the lightness of the wedding week festivities. Some parts of the book are chick lit such as the bachelorette party with its emphasis on sexual revelations.

Readers might judge some characters a little harshly at first because they had a sarcastic or obnoxious manner. But later, their backstories reveal their vulnerabilities and why they acted as they did.

The book kept my interest, and I liked the main character, Phoebe. The Newport setting brought back memories of trips to that gorgeous Rhode Island location with its beautiful mansions built in the Gilded Age. I read "The Wedding People" for a book discussion group, and feel it has many topics that will make for a good discussion.

+20 task (GR Choice Award for Fiction 2024, and She Reads Best Award for Contemporary Fiction 2024)
+ 5 combo 10.5 Tom Robbins
+ 5 combo 20.6 Reducing Emissions
+ 5 combo 20.8 Temple Bar Pub
+10 review

Task total: 45
Season total: 425

20.1 Adaptation and Resilience

The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury

For 20.8, on page 241 in "Zero Hour": "She went in and sat in the electric relaxing chair, sipping a little beer from a half-empty glass."

"The Illustrated Man" is a collection of 18 short stories in the science fiction, fantasy, and horror genres. The stories are framed with a narrative about a man from a carnival who has colorful tattoos all over his body. Each tattoo comes to life during the night to tell a story.

My favorite story was "The Rocket Man" narrated by Doug. His father was an astronaut who only returned home for a few days after each three-month journey into space. The father was torn by his love of space exploration and his love for his family. Doug's mother was so worried that her husband would die in space that she detached emotionally, and could hardly enjoy his visits. Doug idolized his father, but he also felt loyalty to his mother. It was a beautifully written story. Elton John's song, "Rocket Man," inspired by Ray Bradbury's story, has been going around my mind since I finished this story.

The stories were written in the 1940s and early 1950s. It was a time when there was both fear and fascination concerning new technology. The political atmosphere included concerns about nuclear war, Communists, civil rights, and the cold war with the Soviet Union. People were thinking about space exploration, especially as an option if the Earth became inhabitable after a nuclear war. Most of the stories have aged well so it's an enjoyable collection to read.

+20 task (Film was made per Wikipedia)
+ 5 combo 20.6 Reducing Emissions
+ 5 combo 20.8 Temple Bar Pub (beer)
+10 review
+10 not-a-novel (short stories)
+ 5 oldie (published 1951)

Task total: 55
Season total: 380

The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury

The book was made into the 1969 film, The Illustrated Man, starring Rod Steiger and Claire Bloom. It presents adaptations of the stories "The Veldt", "The Long Rain" and "The Last Night of the World".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ill...

10.5 Tom Robbins

How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley

For 20.8 on page 51: "Art took advantage of her good mood to top up everyone's cups with another generous slug of whiskey."

When Lydia took a job running the Senior Center Social Club she was picturing Bingo games and sipping tea, but she had to reverse her expectations quickly. A group of quirky, lively seniors with interesting backstories signed up for the club. The senior group shared the Community Center with a preschool daycare and several other groups. When the city council proposes selling the Community Center to developers, they devise a plan to save it. An old dog named Maggie Thatcher helped bring the multi-generational group together to save the Center.

There's lots of humor in this book as well as uplifting scenes about friendship, compassion, redemption, and healing. The book reminded me of Clare Pooley's two previous novels with their emphasis on friendship and making a fresh start. "How to Age Disgracefully" had more older, offbeat characters and some crazier moments. The novel is written from the points of view of the four main characters--a teenage single father, a woman in her 50s, and two seniors. The author writes humor in a warmhearted way so it's an enjoyable light read.

+10 task
+ 5 combo 20.8 Temple Bar Pub
+10 review

Task total: 25
Season total: 325

10.1 Member Lottery

The Salt Path by Raynor Winn

For 20.1, film adaptation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raynor_...

For 20.8 on page 253: "I've got a beer; want one?"

Raynor Winn and her husband, Moth, lost their Welsh farm, their home, and their livelihood when an investment with a friend ran up a number of debts. During the same week Moth was diagnosed with Corticobasal Degeneration, a rare incurable neurological disorder that causes movement, speech, and cognitive problems. The homeless couple needed a sense of purpose as they thought about where the future might take them. Raynor and Moth decided to walk the 630 mile South West Coast Path heading southwest from Somerset to Devon to Cornwall, then continuing along England's southern coast.

Using very little money for some basic food items, they wild camped along the cliffs and the woodlands. They were often hungry, just subsisting on noodles and tea for days when their money ran low. The ocean was used for bathing and washing their clothes. They met some quirky fellow hikers along the path. Moth found that his health improved a bit with the constant exercise. Raynor and Moth appreciated the beauty of nature and exploring the coastal towns, but rainy days could be a challenge.

Raynor and Moth fell in love when they were teenagers, and they were still loving and devoted to each other in their mid-50s. Even though they had very few financial resources, they were rich in love and fortitude.

This is an interesting book that is a mix of genres--memoir, travel book, nature writing, and a thoughtful look at the homeless. The book has been adapted into a film which premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. The film will be released in May 2025 in the UK.

+10 task
+10 combos 20.1, 20.8
+10 review
+10 not-a-novel (nonfiction)

Task total: 40
Season total: 300

20.6 Reducing Emissions

The Briar Club by Kate Quinn

For 20.8 combo on page 120: "She finished her beer, wanting another, knowing she shouldn't have it."

"The Briar Club" is set against the Cold War atmosphere of the 1950s, and the McCarthy Red Scare hearings in Washington DC. This historical novel features a women's boarding house where many of the characters work in government jobs. The book centers around Grace who gives weekly parties for the residents and the men they sneak into her attic room. They cook together (recipes included), and support each other emotionally while a neighbor plays a jazz saxophone.

Each character has an interesting backstory based on actual people who lived in the 1950s, and chapters are told from each individual character's point of view. Many of them are holding secrets, especially the immigrants from Europe.

The prologue reveals two corpses in the boarding house on Thanksgiving 1954, getting the book off to an exciting start. The story than goes back to 1950, and works its way forward to the infamous 1954 holiday murders while revealing the truth about people's origins. The strong sense of community helps the rooming house residents survive the traumatic Thanksgiving.

While Kate Quinn has done extensive historical research into the 1950s, she is very skillful in weaving the information into the characters' lives. I found the book to be very engaging with varied, interesting characters.

+20 task
+ 5 combo 20.3 Climate Policy (political event of Senator Joseph McCarthy's anti-Communist hearings)
+ 5 combo 20.8 Temple Bar Pub (beer)
+10 review

Task total: 40
Season total: 260

Would a historical fiction book set in Washington DC during the era of Senator Joe McCarthy's Red Scare in the 1950s be OK for this task? Some of the characters work for the government, and other characters are former Communists in a boarding house for women.

The Briar Club by Kate Quinn

15.6 CYOA

The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven by Nathaniel Ian Miller

This is the sixth task in the Classics path: Read a book where the title has multiple words that start with the same letter.

Task total: 15
Season total: 215

10.4 Mother's Day

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."

The novel "Pride and Prejudice" opens with a quote about marriage since Mrs Bennet is very concerned about establishing her five daughters in good marriages. They have no sons and the Bennet estate is entailed, so a male family cousin will inherit the estate when Mr Bennet dies. Mrs Bennet is searching for eligible wealthy men so that she and her daughters will have a means of support.

The title, "Pride and Prejudice," contains two important themes in the book, especially in the relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and her suitor, Fitzwilliam Darcy. The book is quite humorous concerning social customs. Mr Bennet is sarcastic, Mrs Bennet is silly and embarrassing, and Elizabeth has a wonderful sense of irony. Class and economic prospects were important elements in choosing a spouse in Regency England with love and compatibility considered less important.

Jane Austen was born in 1775 so the year 2025 is the 250th anniversary of her birth. Her books have aged well, and "Pride and Prejudice" is a delight. This might be a good year to read some of Austen's works or view one of the excellent adaptations of her books.

+10 task
+ 5 combo 20.1 Adaptations and Resilience (adapted into movies, etc per Wikipedia)
+10 review
+15 oldie (pub 1813)

Task total: 40
Season total: 200

CYOA 15.5

Posting the first task in the Classics path: Read a classic.

American Notes for General Circulation by Charles Dickens

Task total: 15
Season total: 160

15.4 CYOA

Tenth task in the Classics path: Read a nature book, thriller, or historical fiction.

Still Missing by Chevy Stevens is a thriller.

Task total: 15
Season total: 145

20.6 Reducing Emissions

Cannery Row by John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck's "Cannery Row" captures the spirit of a rundown waterfront community in 1930s Monterey. The book's main character is Doc, a marine biologist based on the author's friend, Ed Ricketts. Doc, owner of a biological supply company, is a generous, intelligent man who is known for helping others.

The book is composed of character sketches and humorous vignettes as Mack and the boys decide to do something nice for Doc by throwing him a party. Mack and his friends live in a converted fish-meal storage building near a sardine canning factory and a vacant lot. They do odd jobs to get by, and are resourceful in their own ways.

The descriptions of Monterey are gorgeous:

"Early morning is a time of magic in Cannery Row. In the gray time after the light has come and before the sun has risen, the Row seems to hang suspended out of time in a silvery light. The street lights go out, and the weeds are a brilliant green. The corrugated iron of the canneries glows with the pearly lucency of platinum or old pewter. . . The rush and drag of the waves can be heard as they splash in among the piles of the canneries. It is a time of great peace, a deserted time, a little era of rest. . . It is the hour of the pearl--the interval between day and night when time stops and examines itself."

"Cannery Row" is about community, and making a family of friends. While most of the characters are down on their luck from a material point of view, they exhibit compassion and a joy in living. Highly recommended!

For 20.8, page 136: "By six o'clock they had finished the gallon of whisky."

+20 task
+ 5 combo 20.1 The book was adapted into a film per Wikipedia.
+ 5 combo 20.8
+10 review
+10 oldie (pub 1943)

Task total: 50
Season total: 130

15.3 CYOA

Third task in the Classics path - wine.

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig

Page 13: "We drank several bottles of Blue Nun which was never the best mood stabiliser." (Blue Nun is a Reisling wine.)

Task total: 15
Season total: 80